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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


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^  tei   122 


I 


4.0 


2.0 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTIR.N.Y.  14S80 

(716)S73-4S03 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/iCMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notet/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  beat 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


0    Coloured  cowers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


r~T|    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 
D 


D 
D 


D 


Couverture  endommag^e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculie 


pn    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noirel 


pn    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
RolM  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatorsion  I*  long  da  la  marg*  intiriaura 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blannhes  ajout«es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissant  dans  lo  taxte. 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  cas  pages  n'ont 
pas  «tA  filmiss. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commcntaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  ditails 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-itre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thodo  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 

n 


E 


n 


This  item  ic  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  chocked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color4es,  tacheties  ou  piquies 

'''ay,**  detached/ 
;'ji59s  d^tachees 

(ahowthrough/ 
"^"an£3«!rence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  inAgale  de  ('impression 

Includes  supplementary  matarii 
Comprend  du  matiriel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


[~~1    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
|~n    Only  edition  available/ 


s 


T 

SI 

T 
v< 

IV 
d 

ei 
b 
rl 
re 
nn 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  ixi  filmies  i  nouveau  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  imaga  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

>/ 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

The  Nova  Scotia 
Lagiilativo  LilHary 


L'exemp  aire  fiim*  fut  reproduit  grice  i  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Tha  Nova  Scotia 
Lagiiiativa  Library 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

tAapB,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


>.c:  images  suivantes  ont  At4  reproduites  avec  le 
<4iuv.  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
ae  la  nettet«  de  I'exemplaire  film«,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmto  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmfo  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff«rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  11  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  'laut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diogrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

V 


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PROVINCE  HOUSE 


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ABRAHAM  GESNER 


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HALIFAX  GAS-LIGHT  COMPANY. 


DEPOSITION  OF  EICHARD  C.  TAYLOR, 


BESPECTING  THE  ASPHALTUM  MINE  AT  HILLSBOROUGH, 


IN  IB>  COVHTT  OF  AIBERT  AND  FBOTINCI  OF  KIW  BBUNgWIOK. 


ninitrated  by  a  Kap  and  Siagrami. 


FHILADELPniA: 

KINQ  It  BAIBD,  PBINTEBS,  Mo.  9  SANSOM  STREET. 

1851. 


I 


Keconnoissancft  Map  and  Diagrams  of  the  Aslfhaltam  Mine  of  Fredericks  Brook, 

m  ihe  Parish,  of  JTiEshnrou^li  and  Coimty  of  Albert, iu  the  Provmi-f  of  Ni'wBrunswiuk:  fr<m'  recent  obsfirvatiomi  \iy 

Rirh^ii'ff  C.  Taylor,  PhUadHpiiia  vs. 
Dorchestfi;  May  29"' /A,5I.  Jame^  Robb.  fredtrioon  S£ 


A 


The  Sirilit  iiflhe  Strata  is  i/eiurally 
at  ri^ht  angles  to  the  arv'iws  which 
rrprrsenf  ttu  Dipj 


h^in. 


Pit' Matter  Shale 


u'tlli  l-'o/nl  n.the.^ 


TlicVdin  in 
l.cvH  N.'VIII, 


I'i^.  IV, 


rs  Oamli  SMm  i(«*  Prm  TM' 


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':i  L>  ?•    -  / 


V\. 


im* 


VV 


SUPREME  COURT.  ^  ABRAHAM  OEfi^EB,,  Plulntif, 

Halifax,  N.  S.      )  HALIFAX  OAS-LIUHT  CO.,  Defendants. 


The  deposition  of  Richard  C.  Taylor,  at  present  of  Halifax,  Esquire,  a 
witness  about  to  leave  the  Province,  taken  de  bene  esse,  and  to  be  used 
as  evidence  in  the  above  cause,  on  the  part  of  the  plaintiff,  before  J.  W. 
Nutting,  Commissioner,  &c.,  at  Halifax,  this  14th  day  of  June,  1851. 

Mr.  Johnston  and  Mr.  Jas.  Johnston  attending  for  Plaintiff;  Mr.  A.  M. 
Uniacke  and  Mr.  Fairbanks,  Q.  C,  for  Defendants. 

The  said  Richard  C.  Taylor,  having  been  first  duly 
sworn,  deposes  and  says,  "  My  profession  is  that  of  a 
geological  and  mining  engineer.  I  have  pursued  it 
in  the  United  States  since  my  arrival  there,  21  years 
ago,  and  previously  in  England  and  Wales.  I  have 
written  several  treatises  on  the  science  of  practical 
geology.  One  of  my  works  has  been  particularly  on 
the  subject  of  coal.  It  is  entitled  the  "  Statistics  of 
Coal."  It  was  published  in  Philadelphia.  It  treats 
generally  of  the  subject  of  coal,  and  kindred  sub- 
stances wherever  information  could  be  obtained 
throughout  the  world.  I  have  visited  the  principal 
coal  districts  of  the  United  States,  and  have  reported 
to  the  parties  concerned — associations,  societies,  or 
companies,  and  individuals,  by  whom  I  have  been 
consulted  in  a  vast  number  of  cases.  These  visits, 
and  my  previous  experience  on  the  subject,  prepared 
me  to  give  opinions  respecting  it.  I  have  been  em- 
ployed professionally  in  the  Island  of  Cuba  to  ex- 
amine asphaltum.  I  have  been  consulted  in  reference 
to  other  cases  in  Central  America,  and  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama.    I  have  been  on  the  Atlantic  side  of  the- 


Isthmus  at  several  points ;  I  made  the  first  examina- 
tion in  Cuba  for  a  Spanisli  company ;  I  was  required 
to  examine  as  to  the  quality  of  the  chapapote  there 
existing,  and  to  advise  as  to  the  best  mode  of  working 
or  mining  it.  I  was  not  very  long  engaged  there ; 
suliieient  time,  however,  to  visit  the  locality  and  to 
make  maps  and  diagrams  and  reports  of  the  veins ;  I 
made  a  thorough  geological  mining  survey.  The  sub- 
stance I  found  there  was  pure  asphaltum,  called  by 
the  Spaniards  chapapote.  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
carefully  examining  the  substance,  and  its  position 
and  peculiarities. 

I  have  recently  been  employed  to  examine  the  mine 
at  the  Frederick's  Brook,  a  branch,  as  I  understood, 
of  Weldon  Brook,  in  Hillsborough,  Albert  county,  in 
the  province  of  New  Brunswick ;  I  have  been  there, 
or  in  the  vicinity,  for  two  or  three  weeks.  I  was 
tiiere  from  24th  of  May  to  the  11th  of  June  inst.  I 
made  the  visit,  as  I  understand,  at  the  instance  of 
Dr.  Gesner  and  his  friends.  Professor  James  Robb, 
M.D.  of  Frederic  ton  College  assisted  me,  as  did 
other  parties  occasionally.  Dr.  Jackson  of  Boston 
was  with  me,  a  part  of  the  time.  He  attended,  as  I 
understood,  in  behalf  of  parties  opposing  Dr.  Gesner's 
claim  in  New  Brunswick.  We  all  went  to  the  mine 
together;  viz.  Prof.  Robb,  Dr.  Jackson  and  myself; 
consulting  together  on  various  matters  that  occurred 
in  reference  to  the  mine.  The  mine,  which  we  con- 
jointly examined,  is  the  one  in  dispute  between  Dr. 
Gesner  and  the  parties  working  it  in  N.  B.,  under 
lease.  We  all  went  together ;  Mr.  Cairns  the  resident 
general  manager  or  agent ;  Mr.  Brown  the  manager  of 


,''>• 


the  mining  operations;  Mr.  "Wright  a  proprietor,  as  I 
was  informed;  Mr.  Cook  an  agent  from  New  York, 
and  some  others.  These  were  the  principal  parties 
who  travelled  together  to  the  mine,  and  who  invited 
me  to  inspect  it.  It  is  the  same  as  is  in  dispute  be- 
tween Dr.  Gesner  and  others,  and  Cairns  and  others. 
Dr.  Robb  accompanied  me  during  the  survey,  to  all 
material  points,  until  the  examination  of  the  vein  was 
closed.  He  and  I  made  a  careful  and  thorougTi  ex- 
ploration and  investigation  of  the  spot.  We  made  a 
map  and  several  diagrams  of  details;  wc  also  made 
three  or  four  copies  of  the  same,  to  illustrate  the 
position  and  inclination  of  the  vein,  and  of  the.'  sur- 
rounding conntry  or  strata. 

The  plan  now  produced  [marked  A]  is  one  of  those 
we  made.  We  found  a  vertical  vein  which  was  filled 
with  a  mineral  substance  which  I  at  once  recognized 
as  asphaltum,  and  I  consequently  consider  it  as  such. 

The  plan,  now  exhibited,  is  signed  conjointly  by 
Prof.  Robb  and  myself. 

[Question. — Did  Prof.  Robb  agree  with  you  in  con- 
sidering the  substance  asphaltum  ?     He  did.] 

Dr.  Robb  and  I  made  a  joint  report,  to  which  we 
affixed  our  signatures,  in  like  manner  as  to  the  map  A. 
Tiie  paper  now  produced,  [marked  B]  is  that  report. 

[The  reception  of  the  Report  is  objected  to  by  the 
Defendants.] 

The  result  of  our  joint  report  was  that  the  sub- 
stance was  asphaltum.  We  found  the  vein  was 
placed  vertically  in  the  ground.  Its  thickness  varies 
from  a  few  inches,  near  the  surface,  to  about  fourteen 
feet  in  thickness  at  the  lower  position  that  is  worked. 


I   »iii»iiili>Wii       WiHHI 


99 


6 

The  two  sides  of  the  vein  were  not  conformable  to, 
or  parallel  with  each  other,  for  the  most  part  of  the 
length  heretofore  excavated;  we  could  tell  nothing 
beyond,  at  the  lowest  level.  It  was  found  that  the 
inclinations  of  the  strata,  on  eafli  side  of  the  vein, 
were  dipping  in  contrary  directions.  All  these  cir- 
cumstances arc  marked  upon  the  map  produced,  from 
admeasurements  made  conjointly  by  Profs.  Robb  and 
Jackson  and  myself  We  all  took  the  measurements 
together;  mutually  agreeing  upon  them,  before  we 
entered  them  in  our  respective  note  books. 

The  inclination  and  strike  or  direction  of  the  vein 
and  adjoining  strata,  are  ascertained  from  these  ad- 
measurements and  instrumental  observations,  thus 
conjointly  made  and  mutually  concurred  in  by  Profs. 
Robb,  Jackson  and  myself  The  same  remark  applies 
to  the  breadths  of  the  vein  at  difterent  points,  and  to 
the  general  features  of  the  bounding  strata. 

I  doubt  the  propriety  of  designating  them  as  walls. 
The  bounding  strata  frequently  diverge  and  converge, 
so  as  to  make  the  vein  thicker  or  thinner,  as  the  case 
might  be,  at  certain  intervals  and  positions.  We 
found  the  general  course  of  the  mineral  vein  to  be 
about  N.  N.  E.  and  S.  S.  W.  It  did  not  pursue  an 
exactly  straight  line,  but  varied  a  few  degrees  in  its 
course,  as  shown  on  the  plan  A.  The  meaning  of  the 
term  strike  is  the  course  or  general  range  of  the 
iStratified  masses,  shales,  or  bounding  strata,  on  either 
side  the  central  vein.  The  dip  is  the  inclination  of 
same  strata  from  a  horizontal  line. 

The  strike  of  the  adjoining  strata  in  this  instance, 
is  not  uniformly  parallel  with  the  sides  of  the  vein ; 


*^ 


this  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  features  presented. 
All  these  facU  are  exhibited  upon  the  plan,  and  are 
noted  in  the  Report.     Conformahle  means  where  two 
sides  of  a  seam,  whether  of  sandstone,  coal,  or  shale, 
are  strictly  parallel  with  each  other ;  we  found  that 
this  Hillsborough  vein  was  unconformahle.     It  corres- 
ponded very  closely  with  the  asphaltum  or  chapajpote 
veins  in  the  Island  of  Cuba,  which  I  have  examined 
and  reported  upon.     The  material  of  the  vein  came 
more  frequently  in  contact  with  the  broken  edges  of 
the  upturned  strata,  especially  those  on  the  N.  E.  side 
of  the  vein,  than  did  any  strata  which  conformed  to 
the  general  line  and  to  the  supposed  walls  of  the  vein 
itself.     Therefore,  in  that  respect,  the  two  opposite 
sides  or  margins  of  the  asphaltum  vein,  were  very 
dissimilar  at  certain  points,  yet  for  short  distances 
were  parallel  and  conformable ;  on  the  one  side,  they 
were  seen  in  contact  with  the  hrohen  edges,  and  on  the 
other  with  the  planes  of  the  rocks  contiguous.     One 
instance  out  of  many  is  described  in  fig.  3. 

I  observed  that  the  vein  of  asphalte  occurs  in  the 
midst  of  a  district  composed  of  bituminous,  calcareous, 
or  marly  shale,  in  which  fossil  fishes  abound.  I  do 
not  consider  it  has  either  a  true  roof  or  floor,  in 
mining  phraseology.  It  has  no  overlying  nor  under- 
lying fire-clay.  It  has  no  overlying  nor  underlying 
conglomerate ;  it  exhibits  no  coal  plants,  as  is  usual  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  coal  seams ;  unless  one  or 
two  fragments,  of  doubtful  appearance  and  accidental 
presence,  might  constitute  the  exception.  It  possesses 
no  parallel,  conformable  lamination,  horizontally,  as  in 
coal  and  coal  seams,  which  are  conformably  deposited 


»••>''* 


I 


8 


in  the  carboniferous  system.  Instead  of  this,  the 
divisional  planes  are  arranged  transvershj ;  i.  e.,  at 
right  angles  to  its  sides;  as  also  is  the  case  of  the  as- 
phaltum  or  chapapote  veins  of  Cuba. 

I  am  unreservedly  of  opinion  that  this  Hillsborough 
vein  of  asphalte  occupies  a  line  of  dislocation;  some- 
what in  the  manner  of  a  steep  and  narrow  anticlinal 
axis — wedging  or  coming  to  a  point  upwards.  By  the 
direction  of  the  force  which  was  exerted,  both  longi- 
tudinally  and  laterally,  the  bordering  shales  were 
tilted  or  thrown  down  in  opposite  directions  to  either 
side,  for  a  considerable  area ;  their  inclination  being 
reduced  or  flattened  as  the  distance  increases  from  the 
central  line  of  fracture. 

Stigmaria  is  one  of  the  most  prevalent  coal  plants. 
The  stigmaria,  calamites,  ferns,  sigillaria,  lepidoden- 
drons,  lycopodium,  and  various  other  fossil  vegetables, 
are  characteristic  of  true  coal  seams.  Not  one  of 
these  genera  were  seen  by  me  in  or  near  the  asphaltum 
vein,  of  New  Brunswick ;  nor  in  the  bituminous  sur- 
rounding shales.  I  could  trace  no  fossil  vegetation 
therein,  whether  of  terrestrial,  of  marine,  or  of  fresh- 
water origin. 

I  perceived  in  the  mine  that  there  were  several 
lateral  ramifications  from  the  main  asphaltic  vein. 
One  of  the  most  characteristic  of  these  I  have  en- 
deavored to  delineate  in  Fig.  4  map  A.  It  here  shows 
a  separation,  a  branching  oflf  and  departure  from  the 
main  vein,  a  portion  of  which  holds  on  the  original 
course,  although  contracted  to  about  10  inches  in 
width  or  thickness.  The  ramifying  vein,  now  become 
the  principal  one,  after  branching  oflf  from  the  main 


<»? 


al 


9 

or  parent  vein,  is  seen  to  pass  off  at  a  considerable 
angle,  receiving  and  giving  off,  in  its  course,  several 
smaller  veins. 

Thence,  after  again  subdividing,  the  principal  part 
of  the  vein,  so  ramified,  reunites  with  the  other 
branches,  and  rejoins  its  original  stem;  where  the 
working  along  the  original  course  is  resumed.  This 
is  seen  in  a  place  locally  called  the  Jog ;  and  it  may 
be  added  that  the  excavation  of  the  asphalte  is  con- 
ducted in  this  lateral  branch,  as  the  working  of  the 
original  vein  is,  for  a  space  too  contracted  to  be 
worked  to  profit. 

The  lower  levels  have  not  been  pushed  so  far  to 
N.  E.  as  to  reach  this  point.  In  the  number  IV. 
level  it  was  followed  round.  But  in  Fig.  2,  repre- 
senting part  of  level  No.  VIII.  the  map  does  not  ex- 
hibit the  feature  just  described  for  the  reasons  stated. 

In  this  mine  of  Hillsborough  a  shaft  is  sunk,  some 
40  or  50  feet  deep ;  and  from  it  four  levels  or  galleries 
of  excavation  are  conducted  from  N .  to  S. — on  each 
side,  and  towards  each  extremity ;  numbered  from  1 
to  8.  The  i^lan  A  exhibits  levels  No.  7  and  No.  8; 
which,  in  reality,  are  on  one  uniform  level.  The 
gallery  immediately  above  is  designated  as  Nos.  5  and 
6— the  one  above  that  as  3  and  4  ;  and  the  one  above 
that  as  Nos.  1  and  2.  The  even  numbers  designate 
the  galleries  on  the  N.  E,  side  of  the  shaft;  and  the 
odd  numbers  the  levels  on  the  S.  W.side  of  the  shaft. 
The  ground  plan  A  exhibited,  shows  by  the  black  ex- 
tremities how  far  the  vein  has  been  worked  on  that 
level— viz.,  on  the  galleries  No.  7  and  8,  the  black 
extremity  represents  the  unworked  asphaltum.     All 


I- 


J 


10 

these  levels,  when  in  operation,  are  furnished  with  a 
temporary  floor  of  timber  and  cross  ties,  and  have 
wooden  tram-ways  laid  thereon,  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  the  asphaltum  to  the  shaft  in  wagons. 

What  is  called  by  miners  a  "  Horse  "  is  a  worthless 
mass  of  slate  or  other  profitless  material,  which  may 
happen  to  intervene  and  consequently  to  stop  the 
working  of  the  vein  in  that  direction. 

Examination  adjourned  till  Monday  morning,  IGth 
inst.,  at  10  o'clock. 

Jane  IG/Zf,  1851. 
Mr.  Taylor's  examination  resumed. 

The  substance  called  asphaltum  occupied  a  fissure 
or  line  of  dislocation,  and  an  anticlinal  axis,  which 
tilted  off  the  strata  in  opposite  directions  from  its 
sides ;  and  which  fissure  has  been  subsequently  occu- 
pied by  the  injected  asphaltum  while  in  a  liquid  state. 
This  latter  fact  of  itself  forms  a  striking  contrast  with 
a  seam  of  coal,  which  under  no  circumstances  has 
ever  been  seen  in  such  a  position.  The  Hillsborough 
asphaltum,  I  feel  assured,  was  posterior  to  the  shale 
in  which  it  occurs,  and  in  which  it  obtrudes  itself.  In 
other  words,  the  asphaltum  and  the  surrounding  bitu- 
minous shales  which  abound  in  fossil  fishes,  are  deci- 
dedly )iot  of  contemijoraneous  origin.  The  asphaltum 
which  filled  the  fissure  or  line  of  fracture,  was  origin- 
ally a  mass  injected  from  the  depths  below,  in  a  liquid 
or  fused  state,  therein ;  which  fissure  was  of  course 
caused  by  a  disturbing  force  operating  on  the  crust  of 
the  earth ;  a  case  of  by  no  means  uncommon  occur- 
rence.    The  position  of  the  vein  between  the  strata, 


mm 


S 


11 

as  well  as  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  vein  itself, 
are  analogous  to  veins  of  asphalte  elsewhere,,  and  are 
by  no  means  analogous  to  coal  seams.  In  my  judg- 
ment I  considered  that  the  material  which  fills  this 
vein  is  true  asphaltum,  and  that  "  it  is  not  coal  nor 
any  variety  of  coal." 

Asphaltum  and  coal  are  two  very  different  sub- 
stances. They  differ  in  all  respects,  as  we  learn  from 
chemical  as  well  as  geological  investigation,  as  also 
from  their  adaptation  to  useful  purposes.  The  circum- 
stances, discoverable  upon  the  survey  of  this  vein, 
which  lead  me  to  the  conclusion  that  its  contents  are 
asphaltum  and  not  coal,  are  principally  the  following, 
viz : 

That  whereas  the  true  coal  seams  are  disposed  in 
uniformity  and  parallel  with  the  surrounding  or  con- 
taining strata,  and  continue  longitudinally  and  in 
uniform  thickness  through  veins  for  considerable  dis- 
tances, veins  of  asphaltum  appear  to  occupy,  adven- 
titiously lines  of  fracture,  and  are  seen  to  ramify  into 
smaller  veins  which  traverse  in  irregular  directions, 
uuconformably  with  each  other,  any  adjoining  rocks, 
whatever  may  be  their  age. 

That  the  contents  of  a  coal  seam  are  subdivided 
longitudinally,  viz  :  in  the  longitudinal  direction  of  the 
seam,  and  thereby  mark  the  line  of  accumulation,  or 
the  pianos  of  deposit,  in  contradistinction  to  asphaltic 
veins,  whioh  present  no  parallel  lamina,  but  whose 
divisional  planes  are  placed  transversally,  viz :  at 
rirjld  amjlcs  to  the  sides  or  walls  of  the  veins. 

And  wliercas  the  matter  of  true  coal  seams  is  wholly 
of  amtcmimmncom  origin,  geologically  speaking,  with 


12 

the  contiguous  strata,  veins  of  asphaltum  on  the  con- 
trary, axe  alwsLys  posterior  to  the  surrounding  strata. 

Asphaltum  is  mineral  matter  injected  into  an  open 
fissure.  Coal  is  obviously  derived  from  vegetable 
materials ;  of  plants  which  have  grown  and  have  died 
upon  the  spot  and  have  thus  sloiohj  accumulated. 

As  already^stated,  I  have  no  doubt  the  asphaltum, 
now  in  question,  was  an  injected  mass.  Dr.  Jackson, 
conforming  to  that  opinion,  formed  by  Prof  Robb  and 
myself,  fully  agreed  in  that  view — viz  :  that  it  was  an 
injected  vein.  If  we  were  right  in  that  judgment,  the 
material  certainly  could  not  be  a  seam  of  coal.  It 
could  not  be  coal  at  all. 

By  the  term  "  anticlinal  axis  "  is  meant  the  up- 
heaving and  throwing  off  laterally,  masses  of  strata 
in  opposite  directions,  more  or  less  inclined  from  the 
perpendicular.  The  cause  is  ascribable  to  a  power- 
ful force  which  was  apparently  exerted  from  below. 
When  such  a  disturbance  has  taken  place,  in  localities 
where  coal  exists,  the  seam  of  coal,  together  with  the 
overlying  and  underlying  strata,  preserve  their  re- 
lations to  each  other ;  and  although  dislocated,  main- 
tain their  parallelism  to  one  another,  whatever  may 
be  the  inclination,  or  the  departure  from  their  original 
horizontality. 

Coal,  from  the  nature  of  its  formation  from  vege- 
table matter,  and  from  the  adjoining  beds  which 
abound  in  organic  forms,  such  as  shells  and  fishes, 
which  formerly  occupied  the  contiguous  waters,  furnish 
the  direct  evidence  that  such  strata  were  originally 
deposited  or  existed  horizontally. 

The  opposite  of  this  is  asphaltum  veins,  which  are 


13 

influenced  by  no  such  circumstances.  The  sketch  now 
produced,  [marked  O]  figure  1,  presents  the  ordinary 
features  of  a  horizontal  coal-field.  The  diagram  on 
this  sketch,  [marked  fig.  2.]  shows  a  portion  of  a  coal 
field  which  has  been  thrown  off  from  its  original 
horizontality.  Fig.  3,  shows  a  coal  fault  or  heavcy 
where,  owing  to  some  lateral  violence,  the  coal  seam 
has  been  broken  and  thrown  out  of  its  original  con- 
tinuity. Here  each  portion  still  preserves  its  relative 
parallelism  with  the  accompanying  stratification. 

The  diagram  No.  4,  shows  the  ramifications  of  an 
asphaltum  vein,  such  as  we  have  observed  in  Cuba 
and  at  New  Brunswick.  The  sketch  marked  D,  re- 
presents vertical  sections  of  those  asphaltum  veins,  at 
those  places. 

In  the  case  of  asphalte,  the  divisional  planes  run 
transverse,  or  about  at  right  angles  to  the  walls  of  the 
vein.  These  jilanes  of  division  are  judged  to  have 
been  formed  during  the  process  of  cooling,  contraction, 
and  consolidation  of  the  material. 

In  the  case  of  a  coal  seam  the  planes  of  depositimi 
run  parallel  with  the  seam  itself  In  this  character- 
istic a  vein  of  asphaltum  and  a  seam  of  coal  are 
entirely  opposite  to  each  other.  The  sketch  now 
produced,  [marked  E,  and  also  Fig.  1  in  map  A] 
exhibits  a  rough  transverse  section  of  the  asphaltum 
vein  at  Hillsborough,  and  of  the  bituminous  strata  on 
both  sides,  rising  from  below  the  gray  conglomerate 
on  the  south-east,  and  exhibiting  the  reversed  incli- 
nation of  the  strata  on  either  side  of  the  fissure  which 
formed  the  anticlinal  axis.  It  shows  these  strata 
dipping  in  opposite  directions,  and  exemplifies  the  line 


/ 


14 

of  fracture  which  has  been  subsequently  filled  with 
asphalte  or  the  material  now  constituting  the  mineral 
vein. 

Independent  of  any  chemical  questions  or  opinions, 
the  following  facts,  exhibited  at  the  New  Brunswick 
mine,  are  physical  characteristics  of  a  true  asplialtum 
vein. 


1.  The  absence  of  lamination  in  the  mass. 

2.  Its  brilliant  conchoidal  fracture  and  occasional 
tendency  to  assume  a  columnar  structure. 

3.  The  character  and  configuration  of  its  surface 
markings. 

4.  Its  small  specific  gravity;  not  equalling  nor  ex- 
ceeding many  of  the  resins. 

5.  The  general  prevailing  uniformity  in  the  entire 
substance  or  contents  of  the  vein. 

G.  Its  aspect,  fracture,  divisions,  purity,  and  especially 
its  almost  entire  freedom  from  foreign  and  earthy 
matters. 

7.  The  absence  of  all  vegetable  traces  in  connection 
with  the  material  of  the  vein. 

8.  The  absence  of  all  apparent  organization  in  its 
composition. 

9.  Its  apparent  fused  and  liquid  state  originally,  and 
its  subsequent  consolidation  after  cooling. 

10.  The  practicable  restoration  of  its  characteristic 
surface  markings,  and  its  peculiar  conchoidal  frac- 
ture, after  being  once  more  melted  and  rendered 
soluble,  and  again  cooled  and  consolidated. 

11.  Its  not  soiling  the  fingers,  in  the  manner  of  coal. 

12.  Its  being  strongly  electric. 


l; 


■i^ 


■H 


mm 


-f 


15 

The  physical  characteristic  marks  of  coal,  in  con- 
tradistinction, are  for  the  most  part  as  follows,  viz : 

1.  The  lamination  of  its  planes,  which  show  the  lines 
of  deposit  and  develop  the  progress  and  mode  of 
accumulation. 

2.  The  rhomboidal  subdivision  and  separation  which 
almost  all  the  unaltered  bituminous  coal  seams 
exhibit. 

3.  Its  irregular  or  indefinite  cross  fracture. 

4.  Its  striated  lines  of  horizontal  deposition,  as  shown 
equally  on  all  the  sides  of  any  portion  of  the  mass. 

6.  The  variable  appear  mce  presented  by  these  strata, 
passing  from  dull,  slaty  lines  or  stripes  to  others 
which  exhibit  a  highly  brilliant,  jeUike  lustre, 
according  to  the  greater  or  lesser  amount  of  earthy 
impurities  which  prevailed  at  the  respective  periods 
of  their  deposition. 

6.  Its  greater  specific  gravity ;  as  influenced  by  the 
presence  or  absence  of  earthy  matter. 

7.  The  abundant  accompanying  traces  of  its  vegetable 
origin. 

8.  The  occasional  presence  of  other  organic  forms,  in 
close  contiguity. 

9.  The  impossibility  to  efiect  a  solution  of  coal  in 
manner  of  asphalte. 

10.  Whereas  coal  in  a  modified  state,  such  for  instance 
as  anthracite,  may  still  exhibit  distinct  traces  of  its 
original  laminations  of  growth  by  means  of  the 
ashes  which  it  leaves  after  combustion,  the  original 
aspect  of  its  fracture,  after  fusion,  can  never  be 
again  restored,  as  has  been  shown  to  be  practicable 
in  relation  to  asphaltum. 


7 


■ 


16 

11.  The  bituminous  odor  of  coal  is  obscured  by  the 
quantity  of  foreign  and  impure  matter  contained, 
whereas,  the  odor  of  asphalte  is  resinous,  ap- 
proaching to  the  scent  of  amber. 

12.  Asj)haltum,  like  amber,  is  cZtdr/c,  while  coalis  not. 


The  material  of  the  vein  at  Hillsborough,  corres- 
ponded, in  all  important  characteristics,  with  those 
of  asphaltum  just  enumerated,  and  contained  none  of 
the  characteristics  of  coal.  I  saw  a  boat,  belonging 
to  Mr.  Edgetts,  on  which  a  substance  had  just  been 
applied  for  the  purpose  of  graving  it,  and  I  saw  the 
iron  kettle  which  yet  contained  the  residue  of  that 
substance  which  had  been  so  employed.  It  had  the 
appearance  of  solid  bitumen  or  pitch  which  had  been 
recently  melted  and  subsequently  cooled  and  hard- 
ened. It  was  then  in  a  solid  or  compact  state,  and 
was  evidently  part  of  the  substance  which  had  been 
employed  in  paying  the  boat.  When  broken,  its 
fracture  exhibited  similar  characters  to  those  of  the 
asphaltum  of  the  vein,  from  which  it  had  been  pre- 
pared. Dr.  Robb  and  I  handed  a  piece,  that  we  took 
from  the  kettle,  to  Dr.  Jackson.  There  is  no  variety 
of  coal  that  is  capable  of  similar  solution  and  of  ap- 
plication to  like  purposes,  and  of  subsequent  restorar 
tion  to  its  original  aspect  when  cooled. 

The  specimen  of  asphaltum,  now  exhibited,  marked 
N,  is  a  piece  taken  from  the  Hillsborough  vein.  The 
other  specimen,  now  produced  and  marked  P,  is  also 
asphalte,  and  is  apparently  derived  from  the  chapa- 
pote  mines  of  Cuba.  I  do  not  positively  know  ita 
locality,  but  I  have  seen  a  similar  article  in  the  Island 


17 

of  Cub.a.  There  are  slight  modifications  in  the  struc- 
ture, aspect,  and  color  of  asphaltum,  as  there  are  in 
coal.  The  piece  now  shown  to  me,  marked  with  a 
Broad  Arrow,  (^)  is  in  all  respects  similar  to  that 
substance  M'hich  I  found  at  Hillsborough,  and  I  should 
say  that  it  came  from  thence,  but  as  I  did  not  bring 
it  here  myself,  I  cannot  positively  swear  .'.o  it,  although 
I  have  no  doubt  of  it. 

The  specimen,  marked  O,  now  exhibited,  is  Petrc- 
leum,  a  mineral  pitch  in  a  soft  state.  I  found  it  at 
Ayres's  Farm,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Petit-codiac 
River,  apparently  in  range  with  the  bituminous 
shales  of  Hillsborough.  Petroleum  is  usually  found 
in  the  neighborhood  of  asphaltum.  As  I  have  already 
stated,  I  have  found  the  Hillsborough  asphalte  to  cor- 
respond with  that  of  Cuba.  The  specimen  now 
produced,  marked  H,  is  bituminous  coal,  showing  the 
parallel  lines  of  deposite  which  were  occasioned  by 
the  alternations  of  pure  coal  with  that  of  inferior 
quality,  and  even  with  earthy  matter  and  slate.  It 
also  exhibits,  externally,  a  fibrous,  vegetable  structure, 
assimilating  to  charred  wood  or  charcoal. 

Judging  from  all  the  geological  and  physical  cha. 
racters  already  detailed,  I  consider  that  the  mineral 
substance  found  by  me  in  the  Hillsborough  mine, 
"  is  asphaltum,  and  not  coal  or  any  variety  of  coal.'' 


Cross-examined  hy  Mr.  Falrhanhs. 

I  do  not  profess  mj^self  to  be  a  practical  chemist. 

My  opinion,  as  respects  the  matters  in  question,  in 

this  suit,  is  mainly  founded  upon  my  experience  as  a 

geologist,  and  not  derived  from  its  chemical  analysis, 

3 


A 


18 

solely.  I  am  not  a  professional  chemist ;  and  in  my 
various  business  reports,  ■whenever  the  substances 
treated  of  in  them  required  chemical  investigation,  I 
have  placed  them  before  a  practical  chemist  of  ap- 
proved reputation. 

I  think  it  is  not  less  than  sixteen  years  since  I  at  as 
investigating  the  asphalte  of  Cuba.  At  that  period 
the  article  wiis  commonly  designated  as  cJuqxqjote. 
The  Spaniards,  when  addressing  those  who  only  spoke 
English,  always  made  use  of  the  term  coal,  although 
there  is  no  true  coal  in  the  Island.  Being  little 
familiar  with  that  combustible,  and  havinu'  never  seen 
it  in  position,  it  was  quite  to  be  expected  that,  on 
finding  a  black,  inflammable  substance  in  the  earth, 
they  would  call  it  coal.  This  chapapote  presented 
itself  in  the  form  of  a  decided  vein.  In  one  locality 
it  would  be  more  compact,  perhaps,  than  at  another, 
some  miles  off.  The  Casualidad  mine  was  then 
worked  entirely  as  an  open  excavation  or  pit,  about 
thirty  feet  deep  and  forty  feet  square.  I  was  thus 
enabled  to  see  that  the  mineral  existed  in  a  solid, 
continuous  form,  having  branching  veins,  both  la- 
terally and  longitudinally.  Petroleum  and  naphtha 
existed  in  the  vicinity.  In  fact,  the  naphtha  springs 
abounded  in  the  direction  of  Havana  and  especially 
near  Guanabacoa,  a  city  greatly  resorted  to  by  in- 
valids, to  drink  those  waters  medicinally.  The 
Casualidad  vein  and  its  various  ramifications,  passed 
across  various  rocks  and  slates,  which  exhibited  traces 
of  liquid  pitch  and  naphtha,  occupying  cells  and  cavi- 
ties therein.  In  this  respect,  they  may  be  locally 
classed  as  bituminous  rocks.  In  Ncav  Brunswick, 
bitumen  appears  to  be  diffused  through,  or  contempo- 


"323ir 


rmk 


J 


19 

raneous  Avitli,  tho  calcareous,  fish-enclosing,  shales. 
In  Cuba,  it  appeared  to  me  to  ])e  somewhat  more 
concentrated  and  to  flow  out  in  greater  quantities. 

I  presume  that  naphtha  is  bitumen  in  its  most  liquid 
or  perhaps  diluted  form;  that  petroleum  is  mineral 
pitch  in  a  state  of  flexibility  and  partial  solidi'^y;  and 
that  asphalte  is  the  same  suljstance  in  its  most  com- 
pact or  solidified  form.    All  three  appear  to  be  derived 
from  a  common  source  within  the  earth.     I  decline 
to  give  any  opinion  in  relation  to  their  origin.     I 
perceive  that  chemists  differ  entirely  on  this  point. 
I  consider  that  asphaltum  is  a  combustible  mineral,  and 
in  the  state  of  pure  bitumen.     Coal  consists  of  vege- 
table matters  which  have  been  bituminized.    Asphalte 
is  composed  of  carbon  and  hydrogen,  principally :   it 
also   contains   oxj^gen  and  nitrogen.     At   present  I 
have  not  melted  asphaltum  on  a  large  scale,  but  only 
as  I  would  sealing  wax,  by  holding  pieces  to  a  lamp 
or  candle.     The  specific  gravities  of  the  New  Bruns- 
wick  and   Cuba   asphaltes,   recently  determined   in 
Philadelphia,  by  myself  chiefly,  are  as  follows : 
That  of  Casualidad  Mine, — mean  of  3 

observations,  R,  C.  T.     . 
That  of  a  mine  near  Matanzas,  mean  of 

2  observations,  T 

That  of  the  mine  at  Hillsborough,  New 

Brunswick,  1st  observation,  T. 

do.         2d  do.         T. 

do.         3d  do.         Buck.  . 

In  Glasgow  by  Prof  Penny  . 

Asphalte   emits   an   agreeable   scent   like   amber, 

when  rubbed,  both  in  the  specimens  derived  from 


1.176 

1.160 

1.095 
1.096 
1.097 
1.097 


1 


20 

Cuba  and  from  N.  Brunswick.  They  give  out  smoke 
when  under  combustion,  es[)ecially  that  in  Cuba,  emits 
a  large  volume  of  densely  black  smoke.  It  was  con- 
sidered, in  a  joint  report  made  by  me  and  Mr.  Clemson 
at  the  time  of  our  survey  there,  that  its  best  adapta- 
tions were  for  the  making  of  Lamp-black  and  the 
manufacture  of  Gas. 

I  see  no  connecting  link  between  asphalte  and 
cannel  coal.  The  latter  often  forms  a  portion  of  a 
regular  bituminous  coal  seam;  occupying  sometimes 
the  upper  part  of  the  stratum,  sometimes  the  lower, 
and  occasionally  forms  the  central  portion.  Such, 
for  instance,  where  the  cannel  coal  occurs  in  Missouri, 
Indiana,  Kentucky,  Western  '^^irginia,  Mississippi, 
and  other  states,  and  at  various  localities  in  Europe. 

I  know  that  fossil  fishes  occur  in  coal  shales,  clay, 
and  slates  in  the  United  States  and  in  Europe;  par- 
ticularly in  Scotland,  France  and  Germs  my.  They 
also  appear  abundantly  both  in  the  coal  shales  of 
Nova  Scotia  and  in  the  calcareous  bituminous  slates 
of  Hillsborough,  New  Brunswick.  At  the  present 
moment  I  cannot  recite  the  names  of  those  fishes. 
This  branch  of  science  is  comparatively  new,  and  has 
been  hitherto  fortunately  confided  to  its  most  suc- 
cessful investigator.  Professor  Agassiz.  I  am  well 
aware  that  a  certain  class  of  fossil  fishes  are  also  not 
unfrequently  contained  in  some  members  of  the  Old 
Red  Sandstone  formodon. 

I  cannot  say  that  I  have  observed  in  the  shales  of 
Hillsborough  any  fossil  plants.  Vegetable  remains 
invarial)ly  accompany  coal,  and  coal  shales,  and  fire 
clay.     Fishes  are  comparatively  rare,  but  yet  by  no 


T 


21 

means  of  uncommon  occurrence.  I  can  mention  two 
localities  in  the  coal  fields  of  the  United  States, 
where  forsil  fishes  abound  in  the  shales.  One  is  in 
Virginia,  the  other  in  North  Carolina.  Coal  for- 
mations originate  in  terrestrial  vegetation :  but  the 
adjacent  shales  often  contain  marine  and  frcsJi  water 
shells.  The  more  recent  coal  beds,  such  as  the  tertiary 
and  hroum  coals,  occasionally  are  accompanied  by 
animal  remains.  In  the  true  coal  formation,  little  or 
no  evidence  exists  of  the  presence  of  this  animal 
matter  to  an  appreciable  extent.  There  is  evidence 
of  the  presence  of  animal  matter  in  the  Hillsborough 
bituminous  shales,  in  the  fishes  which  abound  therein. 

I  certainly  entertain  the  opinion  that  the  asphalte 
vein  of  Hillsborough  was  protruded  from  below.  I 
perc  jive  unquestionable  evidence  that  such  was  the 
fact,  and  I  consequently  infer  therefrom,  that  it  could 
not  pot-sibly  be  a  coal  seam.  The  calcareous,  fish- 
containing,  bituminous  shales,  through  which  this 
asphalte  vein  was  protruded,  are  seen  to  pass,  on  the 
south,  beneath  gray  and  red  conglomerates,  grits, 
marls  and  sandstones.  This  series,  according  to  the 
limited  attention  I  had  dme  to  bestow  on  them, 
appeared  to  occupy  the  position  which  is  usually 
assigned  to  the  Old  Ked  Sandstone  group.  This 
group  is  situated  beneath  the  coal  formation,  which 
approaches  witliin  a  few  miles  of  the  Hillsborough 
Mine. 

The  Hillsborough  shales  do  not  appear  to  have 
been  affected  or  altered  by  igneous  agency  or  subter- 
ranean heat ;  except  slightly  in  the  contortion  of  the 
Bhale  at  a  very  few  points.     1  see,  on  the  contrary, 


u 


I 


22 

that  the  rocks  upon  which  some  of  these  hituminous 
shales  repose,  are  all  more  or  less  modified  hy  meta- 
morphic  agency.  Those  occur  on  the  slopes  of  the 
Caledonia  mountain ;  seams  of  bituminous  coal  were 
not  observed  near  the  mine,  but  at  a  few  miles  to  the 
south  of  it.  Coal  plants  are  abundantly  prevalent 
in  the  gray  and  red  grit  and  sandstone,  alternating 
with  thin  seams  of  coal  and  beds  of  ^firc  ckif/,  both  at 
the  north  and  south  Joirgins. 

CO 

Every  coal  field  exists  under  the  same  geological 
relations  with  regard  to  the  associated  rocks.  The 
more  modern  coal  beds,  as  I  before  remarked,  are 
associated  with  a  later  class  of  rocks  than  those  of 
the  true  coal  formation.  Disruptions  of  the  strata 
b}^  which  changes  m  position  and  dip,  and  local  con- 
tinuity, have  been  eftected,  are  incidental  to  every 
coal  seam  whatever  may  be  its  geological  age.  But 
the  older  coal  series  have  evidently  been  subjected  to 
more  violent  disturbing  agencies  than  those  of  later 
periods.  These  ancient  formations,  as  now  existing, 
bear  testimony  to  the  frequent  and  powerful  infiuences 
that  have  been  exerted  within  their  respective  areas, 
and  which  have  occasioned  those  extensi\e  dislo- 
cations, those  faults  and  heaves,  and  those  numerous 
changes  of  axis,  which  certain  coal  regions  present. 
For  instance,  the  anthracite  districts  of  Pennsylvania. 
With  occasional  exceptions,  the  more  recent  coal 
deposites  retain  more  of  their  original  horizontality. 
Coal  never  traverses  the  contiguous  strata,  but  con- 
tinues parallel  to  it. 

I  have  not  had  an  o])portunit3^  to  ascertain  whether 
the   supposed   old    red    sandstone  of  Albert  county 


V 


23 


contains  marine  shells.  My  researches  were  by  no 
means  directed  to  such  details,  and  I  considered  that 
they  were  not  strictly  essential  to  an  investigation  of 
the  Hillsborough  asphalte. 

Examination  adjourned  till  to-morroAv  morning,  at 
10  o'clock. 

Jane  17,  1851. 
Cross-examination  of  Mr.  Taylor  resumed. 

My  impression  was  that  the  red  and  gray  rocks  of 
Hillsborough,  occupied  a  position  analagous  to  that  of 
the  old  red  sandstone  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  but 
that  is  a  point  upon  which,  with  my  present  limited 
knowledge,  I  by  no  means  desire  to  insist.  I  had  no 
opportunity  of  investigating  the  relative  position  of 
the  gypsum  of  Albert  county  and  the  red  series  and 
calcareous  strata  to  which  allusion  has  been  made. 
I  saw,  however,  as  I  previously  stated,  that  these 
calcareous  bituminous  strata  were  lower  than  the  red 
and  gray  rocks;  having  evidence  of  that  in  more 
than  one  instance. 

Coal  is  not  uniform  in  its  proportions  of  bitumen. 
Very  few  coal  seams,  and  even  parts  of  the  same 
seam,  contain  on  investigation  precisely  the  same 
specific  proportions  of  volatile  matter.  I  presume 
that  the  question  of  the  bituminous  matter  contained 
in  coal  has  been  thoroughly  and  sufficiently  investi- 
gated;  but  science  is  every  where  progressive,  and 
some  future  investigators  may  yet  throw  additional 
and  valuable  light  upon  this.  For  myself,  I  am  not 
prepared  to  speak  upon  the  subject.  The  amount  of 
volatile  matter  in  bituminous  coal,  may  be  said  to 
vary  from  five  to  fifty  per  cent. 


24 

Asphalte  I  know  to  bo  readily  soluble  in  naphtha 
and  also  in  coal  tar.  I  have  Avitnessed  the  process 
on  a  suflicientlj'^  large  scale  in  the  Hillsborough 
mineral.  The  solution  was  complete  and  occupied 
but  a  short  time,  and  when  thus  dissolved,  could 
be  readily  poured  into  any  vessels.  To  increase  its 
lluidity  for  the  purpose  of  a  pahit,  linseed  oil  was 
added ;  and  to  adapt  it  still  more  to  the  purposes  of  a 
vanmh,  spirits  of  turpentine  was  introduced. 

There  are  no  particular  rock  formations  which 
indicate,  or  are  specifically  peculiar  to,  asphaltum 
veins.  Such  veins  are  in  no  way  connected  with  the 
strata  which  they  traverse,  in  relation  to  their  geo- 
logical age.  I  am  not  aware  that  asphaltum  exists 
in  coal  mines,  either  in  seams  or  masses.  Bitumen, 
in  greater  or  less  abundance,  occupies  the  ancient 
vegetation  of  coal  seams,  in  lamina,  which  attest  the 
progress  of  accumulation  and  periodical  deposition. 

I  do  not  consider  it  as  a  fully  determined  geological 
fact  that  the  rocks  at  Edgctt's  Cape,  appertain  cither 
to  the  coal  formation  or  to  the  upper  members  of  the 
old  red  sandstone.  Unless  considerable  time  were 
devoted  to  the  examination  of  that  part  of  the  coast, 
it  would  be  difficult  to  define  the  exact  line  where  one 
group  of  rocks  begins  and  the  other  ends ;  the  passage 
from  one  series  to  the  other  being  so  gradual.  More- 
over, the  establishment  of  the  fact,  however  interesting 
it  might  be  in  elucidating  the  general  or  local  geology, 
does  not  appear  to  have  an  immediate  or  material 
bearing  upon  the  asphaltum  question  at  issue. 

I  have  previously  explained  tlie  position  of  the 
fossil  fishes  in  the  bituminous  shales  of  this  part  of 


25 

the  country,  and  the  more  recent  origin  of  the 
asphaltum  vein  therein.  Similar  fishes  occur  in  the 
same  description  of  shales,  on  the  east  of  Petit-codiac 
Kiver,  near  to  Petroleum  and  to  Naphtha  springs. 
Asphaltum  appears  in  small  veins,  traversing  fetid 
limestone,  three  miles  north  of  Dorchester. 

The  clays  and  sand-stones  of  the  coal  formation 
comprise  terrestrial  vegetation,  and  occasionally  beds 
which  contain  marine  shells,  and  others  which  have 
an  approach  to  the  fresh-water  or  estuary  shells.  At 
the  Hillsborough  mine  I  found  no  fossil  plants,  with 
the  exception  of  two  doubtful  specimens  shown  me, 
and  mentioned  in  the  direct  examination.  I  exam- 
ined the  strata  in  and  around  the  mine  and  saw  no 
calamites,  flag-like  leaves,  Lepidodendrons,  or  other 
fossil  plants.  Even  had  I  done  so,  it  would  still  have 
not  amounted  to  a  coal  seam,  on  account  of  their 
extreme  rarity. 

Where  the  original  horizontality  of  a  coal  seam 
has  been  disturbed,  the  shales  and  strata  there  adja- 
cent, are  tortuous  and  broken ;  although  they  retain 
their  relative  conformability,  in  great  measure.  Faults 
in  '~oal  strata  frequently  interrupt  the  continuity  of 
the  seam  by  the  local  interposition  of  unprofitable 
masses,  called  by  miners,  " Horses"  which  frequently 
occasion  considerable  trouble  and  expense  in  cutting 
through  them.  Some  such  difficulty  is  also  jiresented 
in  the  Ilillsborough  mine,  but  from  a  different  cause — 
namely,  by  the  branching  oft'  or  the  bifurcating  of  the 
vein,  as  represented  in  Fig.  4,  of  map  A.  The 
bounding  walls  of  the  vein  at  the  north  end  of  level 
No.  8,  on  the  27th  of  Maj'^,  just  past,  were  observed 


■■i 


26 

to  be  nearly  parallel.  Elsewhere  there  existed  less 
of  conformability,  but  I  do  not  consider  that  in  those 
cases  where  the  ends  of  the  highly  inclined  contorted 
slates  abut  against  the  asphaltum,  they  come  within 
the  denomination  of  "  Horses."  Although  I  have  not 
examined  the  entire  boundaries  of  this  formation,  I 
think  there  exists  no  evidence  that  of  itself  it  forms 
a  coal  basin :  at  Frederick's  brook  it  is  the  very  re- 
verse. [Fig.  1,  map  A.]  The  green  metamorphic 
slates  of  the  Caledonia  Mountain,  rise  from  beneath 
the  series  of  bituminous  shales.  The  latter,  on  the 
other  hand,  are  covered  by  the  gray  and  red  conglo- 
merate series  previously  adverted  to.  The  dip  of  the 
bituminous  shales  was  towards  the  north,  45° ;  the 
course  east  and  west  by  compass.  The  metamorphic 
slates  dipped  north,  30° — at  an  angle  of  50° — from 
horizontality.  In  the  red  sandstone  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, the  dip  was  40°  towards  the  north  west.  I 
had  no  means  or  occasion  to  verify  the  connection 
between  the  bituminous  shales  seen  at  the  foot  of  the 
Caledonia  Mountain  and  those  at  the  mine;  there 
being  no  topographical  map  of  this  region  extant. 

I  derive  my  opinion  of  the  Hillsborough  asphaltum 
chiefly  from  the  geological  phenomena  attending  it, 
as  before  stated  in  detail,  and  from  the  facts  elicited 
in  effecting  its  solution  and  its  applicability  to  the 
purposes  of  paint,  varnish,  &c.  I  believe  that  no 
coal  seams  have  ever  been  in  a  state  of  liquefaction 
or  in  the  form  of  veins.  I  am  fully  convinced  that 
the  Hillsborough  asphalte  is  lui  intriislce  Huhstance: 
^  otlier  words  a  vein  of  wjedion,  of  later  origin  than 
t'\i   enclosing  rocks,  precisely  as  is  seen  in  the  chapa- 


«i4 


27 


I 


pote  of  Cuba.  To  denominate  stratified  rocks  or 
substances  intrusive,  seems  to  involve  a  contradiction 
of  terms.  I  saw  no  trap  or  igneous  rock  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity.  The  nearest  approach  to  such  was 
in  the  metamorphic  slate  spoken  of. 

Coal  can  almost  always  be  identified  by  its  external 
characters.  It  consists  of  bituminized  plants.  An- 
thracite is  coal  deprived  of  its  bitumen  by  a  moderate 
application  of  heat.  Cannel  coal  appears  also  under 
much  the  same  circumstances  as  other  varieties  of 
coal.  Being  more  compact,  the  lamination  of  its 
planes  is  not  so  readily  distinguishable;  and  this 
solidity  probably  induces  the  large  characteristic  con- 
choidal  fracture.     (  Specimen  produced,  marked  I. ) 

The  asphaltum  of  Hillsborough,  is  said  to  acquire 
weight  as  it  descends.  I  selected  specimens  from  the 
mine  with  a  view  to  determine  that  point,  but  have 
not  yet  had  an  opportunity  to  prove  their  relative 
specific  gravities. 

Coal  generally  contains  Carbon,  Hydrogen,  Nitro- 
gen, and  Oxygen;  being  similar  elements,  though 
not  in  the  same  relative  proportions,  as  exist  in 
asplialte.  The  same  elements  enter  into  the  compo- 
sition of  vegetable  and  animal  matter  also,  otherwise 
remarkably  different.  The  matter  of  asphaltum,  in 
such  positions  as  I  have  been  enabled  to  examine  it 
satisfoctorily,  has  always  conveyed  the  impression 
that  it  was  derived  from  very  deeply  seated  sources 
in  the  interior  of  the  earth.  Respecting  the  origin 
of  this  substance,  I  perceive  that  scientific  men, 
geologists  as  well  ns  chemists,  vary  much  in  their 
speculative  views  thereon.     It  is  a  point  by  no  means 


I  f 


■■Hi 


28 

settled,  nor  do  I  think  that  any  prudent  man  ^yould 
venture  positively  to  assert  as  to  what  cause  is  its 
origin  ascribable. 

Dr.  Kobb,  Dr.  Jackson  and  I,  had  no  difficulty  in 
agreeing  upon  the  principal  facts  exhibited  in  the 
mine  itself,  but  Dr.  Jackson  apparently  desired  to 
reserve  his  inferences  for  the  present.  The  latter 
gentleman  is  a  chemist  and  is  employed  in  geological 

surveys. 

Every  coal  seam  possesses  a  roof  and  floor,  the 
latter  being  full  of  vegetable  traces.  I  saw  nothing 
at  Hillsborough  to  justify  the  employment  of  these 
terms,  roof  and  floor.  The  term  walls  might  be  used 
with  more  propriety.  There  is  no  apparent  connection 
between  the  material  of  the  vein  and  that  of  the  slates 
which  border  it,  and  through  which  it  has  been  thrust. 
The  mode  in  which  the  asphaltum  filled  up  all  the 
irregular  angles  of  the  broken  edges  of  the  disturbed 
slates,  is  shown  in  the  diagram  Fig.  III.  in  map  A, 
and  in  the  enlarged  separate  diagram,  marked  Z. 

Cross-examination  adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  10 
o'clock,  A.  M. 

June  18,  1851. 
Gross-examination  of  Mr.  Taylor  resumed. 
All  the  maps  and  diagrams  here  produced  are 
made  by  myself,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  map 
A,  which  was  made  in  Dorchester,  Now  Brunswick, 
were  sketched  in  Court  during  the  progress  of  the 
present  examination.  Map  A  was  constructed  from 
admeasurements  taken  in  the  mhie. 

Coal  plants,  as  might  be  expected,  vary  in  species 


29 

and  number  in  tlifFcrent  localities.  The  small  obscure 
fragments  shown  to  me  as  coming  from  the  bituminous 
shales  near  the  Hillsborough  Mine,  may  be  the  re- 
mains of  some  marine  plants  upon  which  the  fishes 
might  be  supposed  to  feed  or  to  search  for  food. 
Being  carniverous  fishes,  however,  as  we  have  abun- 
dant evidence  in  the  coprolites  or  fossilized  foeccs, 
which  contain  scales,  vertebra  and  other  bony  frag- 
ments, marine  plants,  as  in  other  cases,  might  not 
have  been  essential  to  their  existence. 

There  was  shown  to  me  at  one  point,  in  the  lower 
level  of  the  mine,  a  slight  stream  of  gas,  called  a 
''  blmcer"  w^hich  issued  from  a  small  fracture  of  the 
south-west  wall.  This  blower,  on  the  application  of 
a  lighted  match,  gave  a  slight  flash,  in  tlie  manner  of 
an  electric  spark,  and  seemed  to  correspond  with  the 
nature  of  fire-damp. 

Veins  of  asphaltum  are  of  great  rarity.     With  the 
exception  of  the  Hillsborough  vein,  I  am  not  aware 
of  any  upon  this  continent.    It  differs  here  from  that 
of  Cuba,  only  in  the  rock  formations  adjacent.     In 
Cuba  they  are  chiefly  in  a  metamorphic  state ;  and 
the  same  agency  no  doubt  gave  rise  to  the  intrusion 
of  the  asphalte.     I  neither  saw  nor  heard  of  any 
tendency  to  fire-damp  there.    The  differences  between 
the  asphalte  of  Cuba  and  that  of  Hillsborough,  are 
very  slight  and  immaterial;  but  some  varieties  are 
more  open  or  porous  than  others,  probably  owing  to 
the  escape  or  extrication  of  a  greater  amount  of  gas 
in  the  latter  case,  while  under  the  process  of  cooling, 
particularly  near  the  upper  portion  of  the  vein. 
A  specimen  of  asphalte  from  the  Dead  Sea,  shows 


30 

a  compactness,  brilliancy,  and  intensity  of  black 
color,  that  even  rivals  that  in  Albert  county,  New 
Brunswick. 


Cross-examined  hy  Mr.  James  JoJinson. 

I  went  to  Hillsborough  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
examining  the  mine,  and  my  attention  was  only 
incidentally  called  to  the  other  formations  of  the 
neighborhood.  All  coal  fields  are  geologicall}^  situated 
above  or  higher  than  the  old  red  sandstone  groupe. 
I  know  of  no  instance  where  petroleum  is  found 
in  the  vicinity  of  a  coal  seam.  There  is  frequently 
an  apparent  oily  matter  floating  upon  waters  dis- 
charged from  coal  strata,  and  forming  a  sort  of  film 
or  pellicle.  In  this  case,  how^ever,  it  has  been  ascer- 
tained not  to  be  naphtha,  but  originating  from  a 
different  cause. 

Jet  is  bituminized  wood  of  the  most  recent  series 
of  formations,  chiefly  the  tertiary.  Yet  this  substance 
has  sometimes  been  confounded  with  coal.  If  two 
substances  are  found  to  contain  the  same  ingredients 
or  constituents,  which  are  common  to  both,  although 
in  different  proportions,  I  should  not  therefore  feel 
justified  in  considering  them  to  be  one  and  the  same. 
We  often  find  very  different  substances  which  contain 
similar  constituents,  yet  nevertheless  they  are  by  no 
means  identical.  Supposing  coal  and  asphalte  to 
to  contain  the  same  common  ingredients,  but  in  very 
different  relative  proportions,  it  would  iiot  authorize 
me  to  call  bituminous  coal  by  the  name  of  asphaltum, 
nor  to  denominate  asphaltum  as  true  bituminous  coal. 


<'•.■, 


i^  .■ 


ol 

I  have  entleavorccl  to  point  out,  during  this  examina- 
tion, the  many  essential  diflerences  between  them. 

I  have  seen  the  Albert  county  asphaltum  dissolved, 
in  one  experiment  with  naphtha  alone,  and  in  another 
through  the  agency  of  coal  tar.  I  saw  the  two  speci- 
mens now  produced  [each  marked  K]  melted.  Part 
of  the  product  was  employed  to  paint  or  varnish  on 
wood,  and  the  remainder  was  poured  into  vessels 
while  in  a  fluid  or  boiling  state.  I  was  desirous  of 
showing  also  the  restoration,  after  cooling  and  con- 
soHdation,  of  the  peculiar  conchoidal  fracture  and 
markings.  The  vessels,  which  contained  the  cooled 
substance,  were  subsequently  broken  by  me.  I  re- 
tained portions  of  their  contents  to  exhibit  on  this 
occasion.  The  fracture  and  marking  were  very  simi- 
lar to  those  seen  in  the  Hillsborough  specimens  taken 
out  of  the  mine.  The  experiment  is  the  more  inter- 
esting inasmuch  as  it  illustrates  certain  points  of 
variati /U  in  the  appearance  of  asphaltum  to  which 
allusion  has  been  made.  For  instance,  in  some  veins 
of  asphaltum  in  Cuba,  where  it  occurs  in  its  most 
compact  form,  and  in  others  where  it  is  cellular  or 
spongy,  the  latter  character  is  evidently  occasioned 
by  the  escape  of  gas  during  the  process  of  cooling. 
The  highest  part  of  the  deposite  is,  in  this  case,  porous 
and  even  spongy,  while  the  lower  part  is  compact,  as 
illustrated  by  the  specimen  exhibited.    [Marked  K.] 

When  the  melted  asphalte  was  put  upon  the  piece 
of  wood,  [marked  L]  noAv  produced,  it  formed  a 
varnish.  I  noted  the  paint  after  it  was  mixed  with 
spirits  of  turpentine,  which  latter  mixed  very  readily. 

Asphaltum  veins  might  possibly  be  injected  and 


i 


J 


/'     M 


1 


82 

traverse  a  coal  field,  in  manner  of  a  trap-dyko. 
Nevertheless,  I  have  no  immediate  recollection  of 
such  a  circumstance  having  ever  occurred.  If  vege- 
tables or  fossil  plants  prevailed,  hi  sufficient  ahundance 
to  constitute  a  cad  seam,  at  Hillsborough  or  elsewhere, 
the  fact  would  admit  of  no  denial,  when  presented  to 
our  observation.  Li  this  re])ly,  I  had  reference  to  a 
particular  seam  or  bed  which  might  occupy  a  position 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  asphaltum  vei  .  Yet  that 
would  in  no  respect,  affect  or  change  my  opinion  as 
to  the  origin  and  nature  of  an  asphaltum  vein.  Ad- 
mitting that  ft  coal  seam  might  occur,  even  in  the 
immediate  vicinity,  the  circumstances  which  mark  the 
origin  of  the  asphaltum  remain  unchanged.  I  have 
said,  more  than  once,  that  veins  of  asphalte  cross 
rocks  of  almost  every  known  geological  age.  There- 
fore, there  would  be  no  incongruity  in  vegetable 
and  animal  remains  being  found  in  the  vichiity  of 
such  veins. 

The  gas  found  in  coal  mines  is  carburetted  hydro- 
gen gas, — commonly  called,  when  evolved  in  mines, 
fire-damp.  I  believe  that  the  gas  I  observed  at 
Hillsborough  to  be  the  same  as  fire-damp.  I  did  not 
analyse  it. 

He-crms-excunined  hij  Mr.  F'lirlianks. 

The  specimen  in  this  white  pot  [marked  K]  w^as 
melted  with  the  aid  of  coal  tar.  The  latter  was  in 
the  greater  proportion  as  to  weight,  but  in  bulk  was 
al)()ut  equal,  so  also  with  that  dissolved  in  naphtha. 
Ill  both  cases  they  received  the  addition  of  spirits  of 
turpentine,  in  order  to  make  a  thinner  varnish.     The 


I 


33 

asphaltic  odor  of  the  produced  speeimen  is  disguised 
somewhat  hy  the  coal  tar.  "'"oUisea 

.Z^iT"  "''™''-  *""''  "■■  •"""'^'J  *«  Hillsborough 
asphaltum  upon  iron  heated  to  000°  Fahrenheit 

[Question.  "Would  you  pronounce  a  substance  to 
be  true  asphaltum  which  ,vonId  not  melt  u,„n  the 
apphcatjon  of  iron  heated  to  C00=  of  Fahriheit  " 

as  up  to  th.3  fame,  I  have  performed  no  experiment 

ritTrr'"™^-"^ '''"  -tisfiedtha^in; 

melt  at  the  temperature  of  boiling  water,  or  212 

TIT       .       ;  ^•^■P^""«'"t.  ^id  that  it  would  be 
dt-^^s       r    •"rf.^'^'s"  temperature  as  000 

pWed    „       r '"^°'■  *'I^'''  ^^  ^  '^^'^  ^-^e"  it  em. 
pkyed  in  seahng  letters,  like  the  ordinary  sealing 


(Syn&l)  EICHD.  C.  TAYLOK. 


Sworn  to  before  me 

at  Halifax,  N.  S., 

this  18th  of  June, 
1851. 


(SlgneS)  J.  TV.  Nuimno, 


Commissioner. 


®* 


34 


SUPREME  COURT. 


NOVA   SCOTIA. 


1  ABRAHAM  GESNER,  Plaintiff, 

V  Cause.  vs. 

J  HALIFAX  GAS  LIG  [IT  CO.,  Defendariis. 


I  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  true  copy  of  the 
original  deposition  in  the  above  cause,  filed  in  the 
Prothonotary'g  oflfice  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Halifax. 

(Sirjued)  J.  W.  Nutting, 
Proihonotary  /Siipreme  Court  of  Nova  Scotia. 

21st  June,  1851. 


Note. — In  transcribing  the  foregoing  deposition  from  the  copy  made 
in  great  haste  at  the  Prothonotary's  office,  as  I  was  on  the  point 
of  leaving  the  province,  it  became  necessary  to  correct  many 
inadvertencies  of  orthography  and  punctuation,  and  a  few  slight 
mistakes  in  scientific  words,  ere  they  could  appear  in  printed  form. 
This  I  considered  myself  at  liberty  to  do,  particularly  as  in  no  case 
did  these  corrections  involve  the  obvious  intent  and  meaning  of 
every  part  of  the  matter  deposed  to.  In  a  few  instances,  when 
similar  answers  to  precisely  similar  questions  had  been  several 
times  given,  they  here  appear  ia  an  abridged  form,  without 
changing  the  sense ;  and  with  this  explanation,  I  place  the  MS. 
in  the  hands  of  tb"  printer. 


RICIID.  C.  TAYLOR. 


St.  John,  N.  B.,  27 fh  June,  1851. 


35 


JOINT  GEOLOGICAL  REPORT  [MARKED  B.,  AT  PAGE  5  OF  THE 
FOREGOING  DEPOSITION]  ON  THE  ASPIlALTi:  MINE  OF  IlILLS- 
150R0UGII,  N.  B.,  BY  RICllD.  C.  TAYLOR  AND  JAMES  ROBB. 

DoRCHESTEB,  N.  B.,  20^/i  May,  1851. 

The  undersigned  having  examined  the  mine  at 
Frederick's  Brook,  in  the  Parish  of  Hillsborough  and 
County  of  Albert,  in  the  province  of  New  Brunswick, 
found  the  mineral  dug  therein, — 

1.  To  be  placea  almost  vertically  in  the  ground  : 

2.  To  vary  from  1  to  14  feet  in  thickness,  while  its 

bounding  walls  diverge  and  converge  accord- 
ingly : 

3.  To  vary  in  its  general  course  or  strike : 

4.  To  have   its  principal   divisional  planes  always 

arranged  unconformably  to  the  bounding  strata 
on  either  side — as  in  the  case  of  the  chapapote 
or  asphalte  of  Cuba  : 

5.  To  come  in  contact  with  the  edges  much  more 

frequently  than  with  the  planes  of  the  contiguous 
rocks : 

6.  To  be  associated  with  rocks  w^hicli  for  very  con- 

siderable distances  from  the  mine  are  highly 
impregnated  with  bitumen : 

7.  To  have  no  proper  '•  roof  and  floor,"  and  no  under 

clay  or  other  subjacent  bed  containing  stigmarki, 
or  the  ordinary  vegetable  f  jssil  remains  of  the 
coal  measures : 

8.  To   give  otr  several   lateral  ramifications,  which 

both  int'^'-scct  and  conibrm  to  the  shale  by  which 
they  are  bounded : 


36 

9.  To  occur  in  bituminous,  marley,  [calcareous]  shales, 
which,  at  the  mine,  are  much  disturbed  and  con- 
torted. 


From  the  facts  above  stated  ice  mfer, — 

1.  That  the  mineral  mass  is  not  parallel  with  the 

surrounding  strata  or  measures,  but  that  it  cuts 
or  intersects  them : 

2.  That  it  is  a  true  vein — occupying  a  line  of  dislo- 

cation of  uncertain  extent  —  and  not  a  stratum 
conformable  to  the  rocks  in  which  it  is  contained, 
in  the  manner  of  coal  seams : 

3.  That  its  origin  is  posterior  to  tha,t  of  the  shale 

wherein  it  occurs — and  that  it  is  not  contempo- 
raneous with  them : 

4.  That  the  position  of  the  vein  in  the  rock,  as  well 

as  the  arrangement  of  the  parts  of  the  vein  itself, 
are  decidedly  much  more  analogous  to  the  case 
of  asphaltc  in  other  places  than  to  that  of  'oal  : 

5.  That  it  is  asphalte,  or  a  variety  of  asphalte,  and 

not  coal  or  a  variety  of  coal. 

RICHD.  C.  TAYLOR,  Plnladdptikt,  U.  S. 
JAMES  ROBB,   .     .    Fredericton,  N.  B. 


s^P 


o7 


REFERENCE  TO  MAP  A. 

Fig.  1.  Transverse  section  of  the  Vein  and  the  Bitu- 
minous strata,  passing  beneath  Gray  and 
Red  conglomerates,  and  sandstones  on  the 
south. 

The  inclination  of  the  strata  to'ward's 
Frederick's  Brook,  is  for  the  most  part  about 
N.  75°  W.  20°  (magnetic.)  The  vein  forms 
an  anticlinal  axis,  and  throws  the  strata  in 
opposite  inclinations. 

Fig.  2.  Map  of  the  Hillsborough  Mine,  showing  Levels 
No.  VII.  and  VIII.,  the  shaft,  and  the  direc- 
tions and  angles  of  dip  on  either  side,  as 
denoted  by  the  arrows.  The  inclosing 
strata,  chiefly  consists  of  bituminous,  cal- 
careous or  marley  shales.  They  contain 
numerous  fossilized  remains  of  fishes,  but 
are  without  the  coal  plants  which  usually 
accompany  coal  seams. 

The  vein  does  not  exhibit  a  true  roof  and 
floor  as  in  the  case  of  coal  seams.  We  are 
of  opinion,  that  it  occupies  a  line  of  disloca- 
tion or  fracture,  in  manner  of  an  anticlinal 
axis,  the  effect  of  which  is  traceable  to  a 
considerable  distance  on  both  sides,  but  hav- 
ing the  angles  of  inclination  reduced  or  flat- 
tened, as  the  strata  recede  from  the  central 
vertical  vein  of  asphalte.  No  coal  seam 
has  ever  been  seen  to  occupy  such  a  position. 
The  numerous   distinguishing  character- 


38 


Fig 


O. 


istics  between  asphalte  and  coal,  are  de- 
tailed in  the  Deposition  of  Mr.  Taylor,  and 
in  the  joint  Report  of  Messrs.  Taylor  and 
Eobb. 
Cross  section  of  the  vein  as  seen  at  some  points 
in  Level  No.  VIII.  It  shows  the  opposite 
sides  or  bounding  walls  in  the  line  of  dislo- 
cation, and  their  frequent  unconformability, 
particularly  on  the  south-eastern  side.  The 
arrangement  of  the  divisional  planes,  is 
neither  longitudinal  as  in  a  Coal  Seam,  nor 
conformable  to  either  wall,  but  occurs  trans- 
versely or  at  right  angles  to  them,  as  in 
asphaltic  veins. 
Fig.  4.  A  rough  ground  plan,  or  sketch  of  the  ramifi- 
cations of  the  vein  in  Level  No.  IV.  at  a 
point  called  the  "  Jog."  It  is  designed  chiefly 
to  illustrate  the  separation  of  the  vein ;  the 
union  with  and  throwing  off  some  smaller 
branches,  and  after  passing  around  some 
intervening  masses  of  slate,  commonly  de- 
nominated "Horses,"  again  approaching  so 
as  to  reunite  with  the  main  vein  of  the 


mnie. 


APPENDIX. 

NOTE  TO  PAGE  EIGHT. 

The  line  of  dislocation,  which  is  here  described,  runs  parallel  with  the 
Caledonia  Mountain  Range ;  which  range  is  for  the  most  composed  of  meta- 
morphic,  trap,  porphyry,  sienite,  and  other  igneous  rocks. 

NOTE   TO  PAOE  NINETEEN. 

I  am  enabled  to  render  the  subject  of  the  specific  gravity  of  Asphaltum 

and  Petroleum  more  complete  and  instructive,  by  appending  the  following 
Table  of  results,  obtained  by  the  authorities  therein  named. 

Hillsborough  Mine,  New  Brunswick. 

OBSERVERS.  BPEanC  QRAVITT. 

Eich'd  C.  Taylor,  1st  exp't., 1.095 

Eich'd  C.  Taylor,  2d  exp't 1.096 

Chas.  E.  Buck, 1.096 

Professor  Penny,  Glasgow, 1,097 

Dr.  C.  M.  Wetherill,  Phila 1.097 

Prof.  Jas.  Robb,  M.D., 1.106 

Prof.  C.  T.  Jackson, 1.107 

Eich'd  C.  Taylor,  (lowest  part  of  the  mine  worked,)  1.091 

Casualidad  Mine  of  Chapapote,  Cuba. 

E.  C.  Taylor,  first  specimen, 1.142 

E.  C.  Taylor,  second  specimen,         ....  1.197 

E.  C.  Taylor,  third  specimen, 1.189 

E.  C  Taylor,  fourth  specimen,  (porous  variety),      .  1.153 

Mine  near  Cardenas,  Cuba. 

E.  C.  Taylor, 1.123 

Chapapote,  near  Matanzas,  Cuba. 

E.  C.  Taylor, I.ICO 

Asphalte  of  Coxitambo,  Peru Bousingalt,       .        .  1.080 

Albania, Klaproth,      .        .  1.205 

the  Dead  Sea Phillips,  .        .        .  1.100 

Do E.G.  Taylor,         .  1.148 

Petroleum,  or  Mineral  Caoutchouc,  of  Ayers'  Farm, 

Westmorland  county,  New  Brunswick,  E.  C.  Taylor,  1.301 
Mineral  Pitch  of  Trinidad,  a  substance  intermediate 
between  Petroleum  and  compact  Asphalte,  E.   C. 

Taylor, 1.378 


40 


NOTE   TO   PAGE  TWENTY-SEVEN. 

Til  rolntion  to  tlio  supposod  increase  in  the  weight  of  tlio  Ilillsborou-rli 
a.phnlte,  m  clc.cL.ndin,,s  I  Jmve  recently  proved  that  such  is  not  the  ca"e 
J- or  whereas  the  average  .specilic  gravity  previously  rcturne,!  ))ynine  investi- 
gators, gnes  1.0-);.,  a  mass,  taken  by  myself  in  the  presence  of  several 
parties,  roni  the  lowest  worked  part  of  the  vein  in  Level  8,  with  a  view  of 
testnig  that  fact,  showed  a  specific  gravity  of  l.O'Jl  only. 

NOTE   TO  PAGE  TWENTY-NINE. 

In  relation  to  this  property  of  generating  infianinial)le  cas  in  mines  of 
asphaltum,  we  might  cite  a  case  which  appears  to  be  somewhat  applicable 
t.,  tlie  No..-  i.rmiswick  mine,  luit  is  on  a  much  more  superb  scale.    Travellers 
?  •>l'.y  c  „.  credence,  have  described  a  rem.arkable  mine  of  Asphaltuui 

Ileal'  '  . ..     ,aler  of  the  Lake  of  Maracaibo,  in  Venezuela. 

_  '■  Tuc  i.itu,„inous  vapors  arising  from  this  mine  are  stated  to  be  so  easily 
inflamed  that,  during  the  night,  phosphoric  fires  are  conth.ually  seen,  which 
in  tho.r  eile..^  resen:^  -.htning.  They  go  by  the  name  of  the  '  lannm  of 
Man,raa,o,  becuse  th.y  .ervo  for  light-house  and  compass  to  the  Spaniards 
uud  Indians,  who,  without  the  assistance  of  either,  navigate  the  lake  " 


NOTE  TO   PAGE   TIIIRTY-TIIREE. 

The  following  note,  received  from  Mr.  William  P.ice.  an  experienced 
nianutacturer  of  Asphaltic  Paint  and  Varnish  in  Philadelphia,  affords  con- 
clusive evidence  of  the  solubility  of  the  New  Brunswick  Asphultum,  and  its 

adaptation  to  the  purposes  specified. 

PiiciiAiin  C.  Tatlok.  Esq. 

I  find  that  the  Asphaltum  is  easily  soluble  in  Coal  Tar,  Coal  Tar 
litch,  Coal  Tar  Na].htha,  and  Turpentine,  at  a  heat  of  about  -'0  or  ":iO 
degrees  of  Fahrenheit.  It  makes  a  beautiful  varnish,  and,  from  all  appJiir- 
ance,  will  be  a  substantial  one.  It  is  very  much  like  Trinidad  Asphlltun, 
but  IS  much  more  solid,  and  rcjuires  a  greater  heat  to  dissolve  ;  and  iu  my 
oj)inion  IS  of  the  same  series  of  dei)osites. 

It  has  very  little  earthy  matter  in  it,     I  should  like  to  contract  for  a 
quantity  of  it  for  the  purpose  of  making  it  into  varnish. 


Philadel[>hia,  August  5th,  I8r.1. 


Wm.  RifK, 
Mitmifaclurcr  of  Marine  Paint. 


•^^^^imsaam 


the  Ilillsbornup;!! 
1  is  not  tlic  case. 
L'll  liy  niiio  iiivesti- 
Tsouce  of  s-evertil 
1  8,  with  a  view  of 


5  gas  in  mines  of 
iiiL'wlmt  npiilicablc 
-ciile.  Triivellors, 
lino  of  Aspluiltum 
Ida. 

tcil  to  be  so  easily 
nually  seen,  Avliich 
of  the  '  Liinltrn  of 
s  to  the  Spaniards 
tc  tlie  lake." 


an  experienced 
iliia,  affonls  con- 
sphaltum,  and  its 


al  Tar,  Coal  Tar 
lout  220  or  iiSO 
from  all  appcar- 
(Iml  Asjilialtum, 

iulvo ;  and  in  my 

to  contract  for  a 


Rtcr, 
Marine  J'uint. 


